Beijing, China - The Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (JIPB) editorial office is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 JIPB Best Paper Award. This annual initiative recognizes authors who have published breakthrough research in JIPB.

A panel of 93 international editors rigorously evaluated candidate papers based on high citation counts, download rates, significant scholarly influence and so on. From the top 20 most impactful 2025 publications, four exceptional papers emerged as awardees:

The SlWRKY42–SlMYC2 module synergistically enhances tomato saline–alkali tolerance by activating the jasmonic acid signaling and spermidine biosynthesis pathway

Xiaoyan Liu, Chunyu Shang, Pengyu Duan, Jianyu Yang, Jianbin Wang, Dan Sui, Guo Chen, Xiaojing Li, Guobin Li, Songshen Hu and Xiaohui Hu

J. Integr. Plant Biol. 2025, 67: 1254–1273.

A simplified SynCom based on core–helper strain interactions enhances symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean

Yanjun Li, Ruirui Li, Ran Liu, Junhao Shi, Xiaofan Qiu, Jianfeng Lei, Xu Zhao, Cunhu Wang, Minghai Ge, Huan Xu, Pengyao Miao, Zhongwei Li, Keke Yi, Hong Liao and Yongjia Zhong

J. Integr. Plant Biol. 2025, 67: 1582–1598.

Best Review Papers:

Multiple roles of NAC transcription factors in plant development and stress responses

Haiyan Xiong, Haidong He, Yu Chang, Binbin Miao, Zhiwei Liu, Qianqian Wang, Faming Dong and Lizhong Xiong

J. Integr. Plant Biol. 2025, 67: 510–538.

WRKY transcription factors: Hubs for regulating plant growth and stress responses

Lu Yang, Siyu Fang, Lei Liu, Lirong Zhao, Wanqin Chen, Xia Li, Zhiyu Xu, Shidie Chen, Houping Wang and Diqiu Yu

J. Integr. Plant Biol. 2025, 67: 488–509.

Winners will receive:

The “JIPB Best Paper Award” crystal trophy;
A commemorative certificate of excellence;
A cash award of ¥2,000;

We extend our warmest congratulations to the award-winning teams of the four JIPB Best Paper Award recipients on behalf of the JIPB board editors and editorial Office. We sincerely thank JIPB's authors, reviewers, and readers for their invaluable support!

The JIPB Editorial Office

JIPB Best Papers in the past years:

2024

Li, R., Song, Y., Wang, X., Zheng, C., Liu, B., Zhang, H., Ke, J., Wu, X., Wu, L., Yang, R., et al. (2024). OsNAC5 orchestrates OsABI5 to fine-tune cold tolerance in rice. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 66: 660–682.

Yang, J., Chen, R., Wang, C., Li, C., Ye, W., Zhang, Z., and Wang, S. (2024). A widely targeted metabolite modificomics strategy for modified metabolites identification in tomato. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 66: 810–823.

Wang, P., Liu, W.-C., Han, C., Wang, S., Bai, M.-Y., and Song, C.-P. (2024). Reactive oxygen species: Multidimensional regulators of plant adaptation to abiotic stress and development. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 66: 330–367.

Liang, X., Li, J., Yang, Y., Jiang, C., and Guo, Y. (2024). Designing salt stress-resilient crops: Current progress and future challenges. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 66: 303–329.

2023

Ge, X., Xu, J., Yang, Z., Yang, X., Wang, Y., Chen, Y., Wang, P., and Li, F. (2023). Efficient genotype-independent cotton genetic transformation and genome editing. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 65: 907-917.

Guo, C., Luo, Y., Gao, L. M., Yi, T. S., Li, H. T., Yang, J. B., and Li, D. Z. (2023). Phylogenomics and the flowering plant tree of life. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 65: 299–323.

2022

Liu, B. B., Ren, C., Kwak, M., Hodel, R. G. J., Xu, C., He, J., Zhou, W. B., Huang, C. H., Ma, H., Qian, G. Z,. et al. (2022). Phylogenomic conflict analyses in the apple genus Malus s.l. reveal widespread hybridization and allopolyploidy driving diversification, with insights into the complex biogeographic history in the Northern Hemisphere. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 64: 1020-1043.

Zhang, M., and Zhang, S. (2022). Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in plant signaling. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 64: 301-341.

2021

Gao, C., Sun, P., Wang, W., and Tang, D. (2021). Arabidopsis E3 ligase KEG associates with and ubiquitinates MKK4 and MKK5 to regulate plant immunity. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 63: 327–339.

Dong, N.Q., and Lin, H.X. (2021). Contribution of phenylpropanoid metabolism to plant development and plant-environment interactions. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 63: 180–209.

2020

Liu CL, Gao ZY, Shang LG, Yang CH, Ruan BP, Zeng DL, Guo LB, Zhao FJ, Huang CF, Qian Q. (2020) Natural variation in the promoter of OsHMA3 contributes to differential grain cadmium accumulation between Indica and Japonica rice. J Integr Plant Biol. 62:314-329

Chen K, Li GJ, Bressan RA, Song CP, Zhu JK, Zhao Y. (2020 ) Abscisic acid dynamics, signaling, and functions in plants. J Integr Plant Biol. 62: 25-54

2019

Zhao QQ, Lin RN, Li L, Chen S, He XJ. (2019) A methylated-DNA-binding complex required for plant development mediates transcriptional activation of promoter methylated genes. J Integr Plant Biol. 61:120-139

Nonogaki H. (2019) Seed germination and dormancy: The classic story, new puzzles, and evolution. J Integr Plant Biol. 61:541-563

2018

Shen L, Wang C, Fu Y, Wang J, Liu Q, Zhang X, Yan C, Qian Q, Wang K (2018) QTL editing confers opposing yield performance in different rice varieties. J Integr Plant Biol. 60: 89-93

Qi J, Song C-P, Wang B, Zhou J, Kangasjarvi J, Zhu J-K, Gong Z (2018) Reactive oxygen species signaling and stomatal movement in plant responses to drought stress and pathogen attack. J Integr Plant Biol. 60: 805-826

2016

Li M, An F, Li W, Ma M, Feng Y, Zhang X, Guo H (2016) DELLA proteins interact with FLC to repress flowering transition. J Integr Plant Biol. 58:642–655

da Graça JV, Douhan GW, Halbert SE, Keremane ML, Lee RF, Vidalakis G, Zhao H (2016) Huanglongbing: An overview of a complex pathosystem ravaging the world's citrus. J Integr Plant Biol. 58:373–387

2015

Shigeto J, Itoh Y, Hirao S, Ohira K, Fujita K, Tsutsumi Y (2015) Simultaneously disrupting AtPrx2, AtPrx25 and AtPrx71 alters lignin content and structure in Arabidopsis stem. J Integr Plant Biol. 57: 349–356

Hepler PK, Winship LJ. (2015) The pollen tube clear zone: Clues to the mechanism of polarized growth. J Integr Plant Biol. 57:79–92

2014

Gao Y, Zhao Y (2014) Self-processing of ribozyme-flanked RNAs into guide RNAs in vitro and in vivo for CRISPR-mediated genomeediting. J Integr Plant Biol. 56:343–349 

Zhang Z, Liao H, Lucas WJ (2014) Molecular mechanisms underlying phosphate sensing, signaling, and adaptation in plants. J Integr Plant Biol. 56:192–220

2013

Kaur N, Zhao Q, Xie Q, Hu J (2013) Arabidopsis RING Peroxins are E3 Ubiquitin Ligases that Interact with Two Homologous Ubiquitin Receptor Proteins. J Integr Plant Biol. 55: 108–120 

Lucas WJ, Groover A, Lichtenberger R, Furuta K, Yadav SR, Helariutta Y, He XQ, Fukuda H, Kang J, Brady SM, Patrick JW, Sperry J, Yoshida A, López-Millán AF, Grusak MA, Kachroo P(2013) The Plant Vascular System: Evolution, Development and Functions. J Integr Plant Biol. 55: 294–388 

2012

Li H, Lin F, Wang G, Jing R, Zheng Q, Li B, Li Z (2012) Quantitative trait loci mapping of dark-induced senescence in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). J Integr Plant Biol. 54, 33–44.

Cabrera-Bosquet L, Crossa J, von Zitzewitz J, Serret MD, Araus JL (2012) High-throughput phenotyping and genomic selection: The frontiers of crop breeding converge. J Integr Plant Biol. 54, 312–320

2011

Caitlin S. Byrt, Christopher P.L. Grof, Robert T. Furbank (2011) C4 plants as biofuel feedstocks: Optimising biomass production and feedstock quality from a lignocellulosic perspective. J Integr Plant Biol. 53, 120―135.

Xiao-Ying Dou, Ke-Zhen Yang, Yi Zhang, Wei Wang, Xiao-Lei Liu, Li-Qun Chen, Xue-Qin Zhang, De Ye (2011) WBC27, an adenosine tri-phosphate-binding cassette protein, controls pollen wall formation and patterning in Arabidopsis. J Integr Plant Biol. 53, 74―88.

2010

Brett J. Ferguson, Arief Indrasumunar, Satomi Hayashi, Meng-Han Lin, Yu-Hsiang Lin, Dugald E. Reid and Peter M. Gresshoff (2010) Molecular Analysis of Legume Nodule Development and Autoregulation. J Integr Plant Biol. 1, 61–76.  

Zinan Wang, Ying Xiao, Wansheng Chen, Kexuan Tang and Lei Zhang (2010) Increased Vitamin C Content Accompanied by an Enhanced Recycling Pathway Confers Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis . J Integr Plant Biol. 4, 400–409. 

2009

Booker F, Muntifering R, McGrath M, Burkey K, Decoteau D, Fiscus E, Manning W, Krupa S, Chappelka A, Grantz D (2009) The Ozone Component of Global Change: Potential Effects on Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Yield, Product Quality and Interactions with Invasive Species. J Integr Plant Biol. 4, 337–351. 

Wen-Ying Liu, Mei-Mei Wang, Ji Huang, Hai-Juan Tang, Hong-Xia Lan and Hong-Sheng Zhang (2009) The OsDHODH1 Gene is Involved in Salt and Drought Tolerance in Rice. J Integr Plant Biol. 9, 825–833.

2008

Li-Juan Quan, Bo Zhang, Wei-Wei Shi and Hong-Yu Li (2008). Hydrogen Peroxide in Plants: a Versatile Molecule of the Reactive Oxygen Species Network. J Integr Plant Biol. 50(1): 2–18.

Yan-Yan Du, Peng-Cheng Wang, Jia Chen and Chun-Peng Song (2008). Comprehensive Functional Analysis of the Catalase Gene Family in Arabidopsis thaliana. J Integr Plant Biol. 50(10): 1318–1326.

2007

Gao JP, Chao DY, Lin HX (2007) Understanding abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms: Recent studies on stress response in rice. J Integr Plant Biol. 49: 742-750

Sang T, Ge S (2007) The puzzle of rice domestication. J Integr Plant Biol. 49: 760-768

Zhou XH, Liu XZ, Wallace LL, Luo YQ (2007) Photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation to experimental warming for four species in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. J Integr Plant Biol. 49: 270-281